Page 4 - John Rishe News Today

Friday, May 14, 2021 - 8:56 am BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG — Ogdensburg is one step closer to opening a beach after city council voted to allow the city manager to sign a lease agreement with the Ogdensburg Bridge And Port Authority. The same resolution failed at a Monday meeting after Deputy Mayor John Rishe brought it to the floor rather than having it included on the agenda. When resolutions are brought from the floor they require a supermajority...

Tuesday, May 11, 2021 - 9:08 am BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG – A resolution that would have allowed the city manager to execute a lease with the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority failed to pass Monday. Ogdensburg City Councilors Dan Skamperle, Michael Powers and Nichole Kennedy voted against the leasing the property citing a lack of information regarding the total cost and concerns over spending. Deputy Mayor John Rishe urged his fellow councilors...

Thursday, May 6, 2021 - 5:02 pm BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority will provide a counter proposal to the city’s plan to reopen the former city beach. Following a candid but courteous exchange between city and OBPA officials, OBPA Chairman Vernon ‘Sam’ Burns said the authority would discuss their concerns regarding the lease agreement in executive session. Mayor Jeffrey M. Skelly opened the presentation sharing c...

Tuesday, April 27, 2021 - 9:33 am BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG – A May meeting between the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority and the city could determine the fate of the Ogdensburg beach. City Manager Stephen Jellie said he and Deputy Mayor John Rishe met with OBPA officials last week where both sides aired some concerns and had some “hearty” discussions. Jellie says at a follow up on the discussion he plans to make a presentation to the OBPA ...

Wednesday, April 14, 2021 - 9:15 am BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG – A debate over Ogdensburg Public Library Board of Trustees appointments got heated Monday after the mayor took no action on the matter despite requests from the public. Several members of the public called on Mayor Jeffrey M. Skelly to appoint candidates recommended by the Ogdensburg Library Board of Trustees to fill three seats on their board. “The appointments to the library board ...

Sunday, April 4, 2021 - 5:05 pm BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG – Despite some debate over ensuring the need for adequate public review and assurances it would not replace the Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan, Ogdensburg City Council agreed to accept a draft Community Development Plan. Deputy Mayor John Rishe with some help from fellow councilors drafted a 30-page plan. Despite frequent disagreements between factions of the city council, the plan pa...

Wednesday, March 10, 2021 - 5:21 pm BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG – Deputy Mayor John Rishe with some help from fellow councilors has drafted a 30-page Community Development Plan which he hopes will be reviewed by the planning board and the public in coming months with adoption anticipated this summer. Rishe called for such a plan not long after being elected, but with a focus on cutting costs, preparing such a document is typically a pricey endeavor....

Top Ogdensburg officials want to put hundreds of acres of vacant land back on tax rolls. They have their eye on land owned by the psychiatric center and Bridge & Port Authority.

Friday, March 5, 2021 - 6:08 am OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg City Council is asking state and federal officials to help offset costs of the Wastewater Treatment Plant by converting existing loans to grants. “As presently funded, the ratepayers of Ogdensburg cannot afford $22.4 million in loan repayments, and certainly not the additional $5 million in alternate improvements that are still needed to complete the project and have not yet been awarded,” a letter issued to Cong...

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 - 9:44 am BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg will pay St. Lawrence County more than $800,000 in delinquent taxes owed, a portion of which has been owed to the county since 2003. The decision to pay the debt was made in a split vote along normal lines with Mayor Jeffrey M. Skelly, Deputy Mayor John Rishe and councilors Bill Dillabough and Steve Fisher supporting the measure. Among those opposed was Councilor Michael P...